MEDIA CRICKET
Hailakandi, March 9: Defending champions Dainik Jugasankha marched into the final of the fourth Sefalika Roy Trophy Barak Valley Media Cricket Championship, organised by Barak Upatyaka Krira Sambadik Sanstha (BUKSS) in association with District Sports Association of Hailakandi, at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Stadium here today.
Jugasankha were supposed to meet Samayik Prasanga in the semi-finals but the latter pulled out of the event at the last minute.
Dainik Prantojyoti-Barak Television Network defeated rookies Hailakandi Press Club by 46 runs. They will play BvEMA in the only semi-final tomorrow to set up a summit clash with Jugasankha on Friday. Initially, there were six teams in the championship but Samayik Prasanga's withdrawal left five teams in the fray, paving the way for the winners of the first match to enjoy direct entry into the final.
Navabarta Prasanga of Karimganj elected to bat and scored 79 for seven in the stipulated 15 overs. In reply, Jugasankha romped home scoring 81 for two in 9.2 overs. Nilotpal Deb scored 30 runs off 28 balls, hitting two fours and a six, for Navabarta Prasanga. Skipper Abhijit Bhattacharjee chipped in with 10.
Sayan Biswas of Jugasankha picked up two wickets for 18 runs. Jugasankha opener Amalava Das remained not out on 37 runs and Manoj Roy scored 15 runs. Anupam Das also remained not out on nine. Amalava was named the Man of the Match.
In the second match, Prantojyoti-BTN won the toss and elected to bat. They scored 108 runs losing all wickets in the 15 overs. Hailakandi Press Club were skittled out for 62 runs in 9.5 overs.
Prantojyoti-BTN skipper Debashis Shome and Tapash Nath scored 15 runs each and Pranab Roy contributed 16 runs. Wayward bowling by the Hailakandi scribes led to their conceding 39 runs as extras. Hailakandi's Bidhan Das and Pratap Bhattacharjee shared four wickets each giving away eight and 14 runs respectively.
Hailakandi scored 14 runs off the very first over but could not maintain the tempo. Wicketkeeper Abhijit Das scored 24 and 21 runs came in as extras. Bapan Goswami hauled four wickets for 10 runs. Debashis Shome and Sanjiv Chandra of the opponent team picked up three wickets each giving away 20 and 10 runs respectively. Debashis was adjudged the Man of the Match.
